The truth may hurt, but it will set you free

It’s happened too many times for me to count on my fingers and toes… and maybe even on my eyelashes.

After a girlfriend goes on a first date, I get the inevitable phone call: a report of the evening followed by some version of “I wonder if he likes me. He said he would call and I am sure he’ll call or text by (we discuss an acceptable timeframe here).  I sure hope he gets back in touch.  I think he likes me, I hope so, I wonder…”

I always ask the same thing of my friends: “What do you think of HIM?”

It’s essential to remember that the dating process is a two way street.  Sure, it feels great to have the gratification of someone else’s affection, but it’s important to pay attention to how the person makes you feel when you are together.

Do you like the way your date listens to you, how he treats the wait staff, the way he talks about his family, friends, work? Do you share the same ideas, dreams, goals and sense of humor? 

If we only wonder how the other person is feeling about us, we won’t hear our own voice telling us how we are feeling about them.  Instead of exerting energy analyzing the time until that next phone call, we might spend some time considering how this person fits into our idea of a long-term partner. 

The real prize is not simply getting a call back, but in finding someone we can really get excited about because of who they are.

Girls, next time you start wondering and worrying if someone likes you, ask yourself how much you like him.  You might be surprised at what you find.

This post was written by a guest blogger for DateRaters, ChiCityChick, who’s got tons of great advice for all the single ladies out there. Stay tuned for more insights from ChiCityChick.